Dear Member,

The 2008/9 winter programme of events is already rapidly drawing to a close. It barely seems a few weeks, let alone 12 months, since the committee were putting together the programme card.

By the end of the programme, the Rugby Area main panel will have put on 12 events between autumn 2008 and spring 2009. These have included two very interesting visits, two joint events with Leicester Area, two joint events with the Institution of Chemical Engineers, and one joint event with each of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Coventry Automobile Division, the Rugby Aviation Group and ALSTOM Power. Unfortunately the average attendance at events has been down on previous years, and I am sure this is at least in part down the poor weather over the winter months.

In addition to the main panel events, the active Retired Members’ Section will have also put on a full programme of 8 events.

The area committee has already started putting together the programme card for next winter’s season, and I am personally extremely grateful to the programme sub-committee for the considerable effort they put into making these events happen. Of course, if anyone is able to offer a talk, presentation or visit that would be of general interest, the committee would be very pleased to hear from you.

We are lucky living in the Midlands in that we are surrounded by other active IMechE Areas, and also other institutions and organisations. Where we have details of events organised by other areas or organisations, we now put details on our “NearYou” website (nearyou.imeche.org.uk/ uk/midl/RUARGB). Please let us know if you feel sufficiently informed of such events, as well as ideas for improving the attendance at our own events.

As my two year term as Chairman comes to an end, I would like to thank the out-going committee for all their efforts over the last 12 months and ask you all to support the new committee in the continuation of this good work.

Sincerely,

Andrew Fowler

IMechE Chairman, Rugby Area, Midland Region